Cougars Are Picture Perfect in Division I Final

A number of snapshots perfectly encapsulated Capistrano Valley’s 10-1 rout of Long Beach Wilson Saturday at Dodger Stadium that gave the Cougars their first Southern Section Division I title.

There was first baseman Scott Cheo, pumping his fists after blasting a two-run home run in the second inning. There was left fielder P.J. Mitchell, racing gleefully home from third base on an errant throw. And there were the Cougars, mobbing each other in a jubilant pile following the game.

But this championship season was packed with ups, downs and more twists than an Alfred Hitchcock classic. There was a time when Capistrano Valley lagged in fourth place in the South Coast League, fighting for its playoff life, before coming on strong to win 12 consecutive games and the section title.

These snapshots included one of pitcher Frank McLaughlin, taking 100 ground balls after practice every day to improve his fielding. There was another of catcher Brad Davis, refusing to see a doctor after suffering a knee injury for fear he would have to stop playing. There was another of closer Kellan McConnell, switching roles from a starter to a closer.

And there was one more of Coach Bob Zamora, steadying the ship that threatened to sink on so many occasions.

All the hard work and dedication paid off Saturday, when the Cougars throttled a wild-card team that had played like a champion en route to the title game.

Davis drove in four runs and McLaughlin struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings as Capistrano Valley (23-8) captured its fourth title under Zamora. The Cougars won Division II titles in 1983, ’87 and ’91.

“I can’t explain how I feel. It’s amazing,” Davis said. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Long Beach Wilson Coach Mark Clabough hoped starter Taylor Draper could shut down Capistrano Valley for the first 2 2/3 innings to get to ace pitcher Joey Pace, who could pitch the final 4 1/3 innings, giving him the 10 allowed per week under section rules.

But by the time Pace entered the game in the third inning, the Cougars had scored six runs.

“Our guys played this game like they played every game in the playoffs--they played great defense and threw strikes,” Zamora said.

It was the second consecutive year the Bruins (23-10), who were seeking their first title since 1950, lost in the final. Last year, Riverside Arlington defeated Wilson.

“Last year, when we lost at Edison Field, I never thought I’d have to see those expressions again,” Bruin second baseman Todd Marshall said. “But here we are one year later, with those same sad faces.”

Neither team was expected to make it this far. Capistrano Valley rallied to win its league but was unseeded in the playoffs. Wilson finished second in the Moore League and received a wild card.

Capistrano Valley took a 3-0 lead in the first inning off Draper. Justin Demere, Cheo and Travis Becktel hit consecutive singles to load the bases for McConnell, who singled to center to drive in Demere. Davis followed with a two-run double down the left-field line.

The hits kept on coming in the second.

After the Cougars scored one run, Demere walked and Cheo hit a two-run home run down the left-field line to give them a comfortable 6-0 lead. Cheo finished a triple short of hitting for the cycle.

Davis added his third and fourth RBIs in the sixth on a two-run bloop single to shallow left-center.

The lone offensive highlight for Wilson came in the fourth, when Greg Wasick hit a home run halfway up the pavilion seats in left-center.